French Catholic school board for South-Central Ontario

Dedicated to the academic achievement and personal success of every child

Year after year, EQAO results come to the French Catholic school board for South-Central Ontario (CSDCCS) as proof of a job well done. EQAO’s tests measure student achievement in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to Ontario Curriculum expectations. In CSDCCS schools, EQAO results consistently exceed provincial averages. There is no magic formula behind such results, instead there is a powerful team of professionals totally dedicated to the academic achievement and personal success of every student. line. Each day they engage students in order to open their minds, acquire new knowledge, grow into well balanced individuals with a high level of academic and social skills. CSDCCS teachers are particularly successful at it because they can count on the support of the educational team at their school and because they are backed by a dynamic pedagogical system which is constantly seeking new ways to improve performance and keep up with changes in society.

The French Catholic school board for South-Central Ontario is the powerhouse behind the 54 schools under its authority. This number of schools is growing every year, as 75% of eligible parents choose a French language school of the CSDCCS for their children.

“In our classrooms, no one is left out. All the students can find their own way to grow and succeed, as well as forge their own personal identity as francophones.”

Jérôme Pepin Superintendent at the French Catholic school board for South-Central Ontario

Jérôme Pepin is a superintendent at the CSDCCS and one of his responsibilities is to provide support to educational staff. “Our goal is to reach optimal academic achievement and personal success for every child. Consequently, the board’s top priority is to help teachers build their expertise and empower them with leadership and instructional effectiveness.” Pepin and the other superintendents of the board work closely with every school in their territory. Together with the teaching staff and the school principals, they regularly analyse academic data and review pedagogical approaches in order to meet expectations. As technical as this may sound, this process is not about crunching numbers. It is about being committed that all students succeed and making sure that each and every one of them in any classroom can reach his or her full potential. Teaching is tailored to help students who may be struggling while giving others the right kind of challenge they need to push their abilities to new heights. Pepin is proud to state: “In our classrooms, no one is own way to grow and succeed, as well as forge their own personal identity as francophones.”

This is made possible because there is a high level of trust and respect between the board and the school educators. They are all aiming at a common goal and recognize how they can collaborate in order to give students the best environment that will help them succeed.

One of their most powerful strategies is engaging parents in their children’s learning. Time and again, research has shown how including parents in the equation has been an important part of achieving results. It may be as simple as explaining to parents how they can support their child’s learning at home, or as far reaching as enrolling parents in French classes thus enabling them to help their children with French language acquisition and homework. Pepin adds that: “In every school of the CSDCCS, Learn French courses are offered to parents for free where interest for it.”

To sum it up, here is Pepin’s message to parents looking for a new school for their child: “In the French Catholic school board for SouthCentral Ontario, the entire staff is totally dedicated to the success of every student and provincial tests results show that we are doing the right thing. Because christian values and the transmission of the French language and francophone culture are an integral part of our mission as educators, we are able to create a supportive environment where students feel that they belong and therefore are willing to take risks to reach higher goals.”